UPDATE: Most Appoquinimink District schools reopen after threats

Staff Report

Thursday

Oct 4, 2018 at 2:45 PMOct 4, 2018 at 2:47 PM

Delaware State Police are investigating a bomb threat and a report about a person seen with a rifle today, Oct. 4. The lockdown alert has been lifted at all district schools except Middletown High. All after-school activities at Middletown High have been cancelled.

UPDATED REPORT, Oct. 4, 2:45 p.m.

Delaware State Police have contacted Appoquinimink School District officials and have removed all schools except Middletown High School from the lockdown.

All district schools except Middletown High School will dismiss at the normal time.

With police at Middletown High, dismissal will be in stages, with buses loading students at staggered times to allow police to provide tight security, according to the Appoquinimink School District Facebook page.

Some buses will be arriving late today. This could include some elementary buses that must drop off Middletown High School students first.

All after-school activities at Middletown High School have been cancelled, including sports, clubs and adult education.

Activities at the other district schools and campuses will continue as normal. The state police have reported that there is no threat to other schools or campuses, according to the district's Facebook page.

ORIGINAL REPORT, Oct. 4, 2:25 p.m.

All Appoquinimink District schools were placed on a security lockdown today because of two threats.

Middletown High School received a threatening call stating that an individual would attempt to bring a pipe bomb onto the campus, according to an announcement on the district's Facebook page and website.

The high school went into lockdown immediately, and Delaware State Police were contacted.

The police are now directing the response which includes "a strong police presence in the area around the school," according to the Facebook page and website.

State police have also shared news that police received a call about an individual with a rifle in the community, and so police are also investigating that report.

As a result all Appoquinimink schools were put on lockdown, and will remain on lockdown until the state police give approval.

For the safety of all involved, buses and cars won't be allowed to enter or leave schools during the lockdown.

The district has sent phone and email messages to all district families, according to the district's Facebook page and website.